Prices will start from £17,995 OTR for the entry-level S grade petrol model, rising to £24,945 for the flagship EX diesel.

Key features of the new model include claimed class-leading boot space of 453 litres with the rear seats up and 1,026 litres with the rear seats down. The HR-V also incorporates Honda's highly practical Magic Seats system, allowing for numerous loading configurations.

Leon Brannan, head of cars at Honda UK, commented: "Sixteen years after the original HR-V, Honda is returning to the crossover segment it pioneered with the exceptionally spacious, versatile and technologically advanced HR-V. And with highly competitive list prices, we are expecting huge demand for the all-new HR-V.

"We've boldly identified that 2015 is 'the year of Honda' and HR-V signals the third of five new and refreshed models for the brand this year. Following the arrival of the extensively upgraded CR-V – the HR-V's bigger sibling – and the recent launch of the thrilling all-new Civic Type R, we're confident the HR-V will further broaden the appeal of the Honda brand amongst a wide range of car buyers."

Engine choices from launch cover an all-new 128bhp 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol and 118bhp 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine, with emissions starting from 104g/km. These are combined with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a newly developed CVT (for petrol models only) which uses new control software exclusive to Europe that simulates seven speeds and provides optimised gear change mapping.

Three trims are offered, comprising S, SE and EX. Standard kit on the S model includes features such as climate control, cruise control and dusk-sensing automatic headlamps fitted as standard.

The mid-grade SE model, priced from £19,745, adds kit including rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors and a six-speaker audio upgrade. A 'Smart Touch' interior includes touch panel controls for the upgraded dual-zone climate control.

Customers choosing the top-grade EX model – priced from £23,195 – will gain full leather interior, smart entry and start, and a rear-view camera. It also brings a unique-in-class, tilt-and-slide opening panoramic glass sunroof and 17-inch alloy wheels. In addition, integrated Garmin navigation is standard on EX and is available as an option on SE models.

Customers opting for the SE or EX models will also benefit from the Honda Connect in-car infotainment system as standard. This Android-based system features an app-based 'pinch, swipe and tap' interface accessed on a seven-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash.

Honda Connect comes with pre-installed apps, with others available for download from the Honda App Centre.

Safety kit sees Honda's City-Brake Active System included as standard. SE or EX models will feature Honda's Advanced Driver Assist System, which uses radar sensors, plus forward and rear-facing cameras, and includes Forward Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Limiter, Lane Departure Warning and High-beam Support System.

Full pricing of the entire HR-V range will be available in the next few weeks.